Legendary Colorado coach Walseth dies

Boulder, CO (Sports Network) – Legendary University of Colorado
basketball coach Russell “Sox” Walseth died Wednesday at the age of 76.

Walseth, who is one of a few to have coached both men’s and women’s basketball
at the same school, had been battling cancer for the past two years.

“We not only lost a tremendous coach, husband, father, but a great Buff,”
said Colorado head football coach Gary Barnett. “The kind of man we all aspire
to be.”

He was a player, coach and administrator during 38 years at Colorado. Walseth
took over as head coach of the men’s team in 1956-57 and guided the Buffaloes
to a 261-245 record over 20 seasons, making him the winningest coach in school
history.

While coaching the men, Walseth won three Big Eight Conference titles and
named conference coach of the year on five occasions.

He retired from coaching in 1976 and worked with the athletic department for
four years, but in 1980-81, he coached the women’s team and compiled a 25-7
mark over three seasons.